Welcome to the BSG Community

You are brave and strong.

“Most of us spend our lives trying to hide, overcome or even deny our weakness and fears, believing that our cracks and imperfections disqualify us from a life of influence and love. It never really crosses our mind that our weakness and fear are the place of hidden treasure from which courage and strength will spring forth. ”

— Jan Greenwood, Founder

“Brave Strong Girl is a community of spiritually-grounded women driven to boldly overcome fear and weakness through faith-based mentorship, connection, collaboration, and resources. 

Our goal is to connect women who feel called to a divine purpose to the true source of all power, Jesus Christ, so that they might serve others in a manner that glories God and builds up the faith of His people.”

For several years, we’ve been working on building a mentoring community for women.  It started out as a simple collection of resources in one easy location.  With time, our vision has grown.

• What if I could gather what we already have - friends, resources, stories of faith - and gather them in one beautiful place?

• What if we could use our own journeys to speak faith over fear and strength over weakness to one another?

• What if we could introduce a lot of women to not only anointed resources, but also to trusted Christian mentors?

• And what if we could do in an atmosphere full of grace, safety and empowerment?

In the Brave Strong Girl community, we believe that you are a warrior who has the ability to make a difference in the lives of others. A true warrior’s strength comes not from her tools, experiences or even her imagination, but rather rises from a divine call, a sense of purpose, and a holy hope that her experiences, pain and trials can be used to change her world and the world of those around her. She is empowered not by her own strength or courage, but by a constant dependence upon the Holy Spirit which presses her to rise above her fear and weakness.

Ready to check us out? Then begin by joining the BSG community on our private Facebook group. This is the best place to find out who you might already know and to make some new friends. We’ll keep you updated, encouraged and connected. And don’t forget to subscribe to our email list so that you will be the first to know about new blogs, resources and opportunities for gathering.

Stay tuned for great resources, powerful coaching and some amazing mentors.

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Don't Give Up

This morning I got up early and headed up to deck 10 to take a walk. Last year I sailed on this boat and I remembered how beautiful the morning sun was on the water. I took along my music, put on my sunglasses, new shoes and headed out the door As soon as I arrived on deck 10 and the doors slid open I felt a blast a wind hit my face. I headed out to the track and turned left. Immediately the wind hit my back, propelling me forward. I held onto my phone a little tighter as I realized the wind could whip it from my hand. As I got to the rear of the ship and passed across the back, I had a moment of reprieve as the night club on deck 11 blocked the wind.

Then I headed directly into the sun and the most intense windstorm.

It takes a lot more determination to walk when the wind is in your face. I had to lean in and press forward in order to make it all the way around the deck. It wasn’t as beautiful this time because I couldn’t really concentrate on the scenery because I was focusing on one foot in front of the other.

Then I rounded the front corner and the wind hit my back again. At first I thought this will be easier. But then a big gust came and I almost stumbled. I could feel the wind shove me forward, pressing me to go faster than I wanted to go.

Circle after circle around the deck I felt the wind swirl, blow and rage all around me. It made threatening noises and disturbed my peace. I put my eyes on the steps in front of me and just kept moving forward. I was determined to get my four laps in for the day.

As I walked I thought about how I’ve been feeling the past few days. As I am coming off the steroids I am experiencing the low that follows the high. I am easily tired and find myself crashing by mid-afternoon. Forget staying up late – it’s practically painful. To top it off, I’m still not sleeping through the night. I’m frustrated by my bodies lack of rebound and I just want to feel good. I find that a tired body speaks so loudly and constantly reminds me of my weakness.

it began to occur to me that my walk around the deck was a picture of how I am feeling in the spirit and a really good illustration of spiritual warfare.  In my own life, I feel the wind of resistance.  I can’t see it, but I can feel it. And just about the time I think I’ve broken through and gotten a reprieve, it seems I turn my face straight into the wind again. I have to build strength by overcoming the resistance and I have to be resolute in my determination to keep going.  I want it to be beautiful sunrises and great scenery but usually it's more like a threatening storm.

Spiritual warfare is a real thing. You have a real enemy. And he is relentless, cruel and sneaky. He wants you to struggle against the wind, striking at enemies you can’t see, being overcome by forces that are invisible. He wants to intimidate you and he wants to threaten you. He wants us to give up.

On lap three I glanced up and saw three friends right in front of me who were on their own walk. Suddenly I felt a little lighter and I was grateful to make my final lap with them. The wind, the noise and pressure bothered me so much less. I easily finished the final stretch.

Maybe you can relate to my spiritual walk. Maybe you been feeling like the wind is blowing you every which way and trying its best to knock you down, hold you back or force you to advance too quickly. You’ve been concentrated on staying on your feet and pressing through to the end goal.

Now look up.  All around us are encouragers and helpers - others on a similar journey - who are willing to walk with you.

I’m grateful for the grace of God in the midst of the storms of life. I find every morning He meets me with grace for today. (By the way – I have no grace for tomorrow or next week. I only have manna for today and that’s all you’ve got too.) Just when I want to give up or even consider believing a lie, he sends a friend to walk with me. Sometimes the friend is a sister, my husband or even my kids. Sometimes he reminds me I am never alone and the Holy Spirit is companion enough for me.

So I finished my four rounds, hurried back to my room and started drafting this note to you.

Remember, it’s just wind. Don't give up.  Just keep walking.

There is Always Hope

I have had the most awesome first week of returning to work.  Every place I went I was met with such love and encouragement. When I stepped into my office I was met with a celebration - festive decorations, notes of love, beautiful flowers - and lots of hugs.  I have missed them so much.

I finished the week with a quick trip to Indiana, Pennsylvania to speak at a "Sisterhood" women's night for my friend, Kim Masengale and The Summit Church.  Kim and her husband Mel have a beautiful, growing congregation (and 2 amazing daughters, Abbie and Emma).  Over 400 ladies showed up on Friday night and I shared my heart about how important it is to create healthy female relationships.  It snowed both days I was there and I got to meet with Kim's leaders on two different occasions.  It was a wonderful weekend and I felt like my old myself.

Today Mark and I bought groceries, watched the Masters and tonight I shared dinner with my mom, finished the laundry and got myself ready for another week.

My heart is happy.  My body is feeling strong.  My attitude is hopeful.

This is a good moment. A hopeful moment.

This journey definitely has highs and lows; good and bad; discouragement and hope.  I want to remember both the highs and the lows.  They both testify to me of the faithfulness of God.

If you find yourself in a less than good moment in your own journey, please let me encourage you to just keep standing.  Tonight you will rest and tomorrow will be a new day.  You'll have a better perspective.  You'll get some good news.  There is always hope.

And if things are dark and you are at the end of your rope, then I'd like to lend you my favorite verse.  (I wrote a blog called Resolute that talks about why this is my favorite verse.)

Hold fast to the confession of your faith because He who promised is faithful. 

Heb 10:23

When you don't feel it, then just confess it.

Don't confess your weakness, but rather confess your faith.  It doesn't take much.  Just a mustard seed of faith is enough to please God and move mountains.

Then get some rest.  Wait on the Lord.  He is faithful.

Miracles Make You Ponder

We are all brave acts waiting to happen

and miracles waiting to celebrate.

Rita Springer

I had lunch today with my friend, Rita Springer. Rita is a well-known and respected worship leader, but she is so much more than that.  She's a mom (to her son Justice), sister, aunt, friend, and mentor to many.  She has a unique prophetic anointing on her voice that echoes across heaven as she worships, teaches, preaches, and especially when she locks you in the line of her beautiful blue eyes and shares face-to-face.

Rita has been an inspiration in my life for a long time, ministering often to me through her worship before I ever had the honor of calling her friend.  When I am with her, I am a bit in awe of her faith, personal relationship with Jesus, and her tenacious, overcoming attitude.  I always find a new revelation or insight that sparks more radical faith in me.

Today was no different.

Across our table and within just a few moments, she opened my heart, read my mail, and challenged me to celebrate God's miracles in my life. She spoke some of the prose and poetry of heaven over me and then...just like that...she was on her way.

This evening as I scanned my Instagram account I saw the following post from Rita.  (She shared a little about this story with me during our lunch and I asked her permission to share it here.) I share this "counsel from a wise sage" to any of you who are walking in a season where great courage is required and where miracles are desperately needed.  I hope you dig around a little in her offering and find a blessing there.

I don't know if I believe being brave is a gift that some have and some don't. I tend to think being brave is an option. You choose it.

When a storm comes you hold on through it. When you are pushed to an edge, you dig your heels in. When you are given bad news you swallow hard and think on how every bad thing has good wanting to surface. Rainbows don't appear unless rain and light engage. Neither does bravery appear unless the will is tested and the heart endures.

I feel this year has bravery embedded in it. Exciting but costly.

I was talking to my niece this past weekend about her near death experience. In the eye of her storm, her newborn taken out of her arms and her bloodless body racing toward a hospital, she said she felt of all things...peace. She had a feeling the world she had lived in was about to see a whole new one and while others shouted at her to stay awake she said peace rolled in, sat on her chest and had her in need of bravery. Bravery stood up as an option to grab. Peace sat as a foundation to whatever her choice would be.

Miracles make you ponder...

I am aware that the enemy tries to make miracles a memory of trauma and not a victory of bravery. I'm not sure who this is for, but if you find yourself wondering if you are brave, simply dig your heels in and lift your chin up. We are all brave acts waiting to happen and miracles waiting to be celebrated. I saw these both this past two weeks and I cannot be the same. I choose being BRAVE and loving peace.

(Rita's niece and her beautiful baby are both doing well.  They are a miracle!)

Forced Rest

And he said to them,“Come away by yourselves to a desolate place and rest a while.” For many were coming and going, and they had no leisure even to eat.

Mark 6:31

Last week I shared a wonderful evening with some of the team of ladies who participated in a recent leadership trip to Scottsdale, Arizona.  They visited the Gateway campus there and attended Scottsdale's first Pink Impact.  I had planned to be a part of that gathering, but due to the timing of my treatments, I ended up staying home.  We gathered to share a meal and talk about their experience.

The team went with the intention of serving.  The goal was to be available and to do whatever was needed.  Upon arrival it was pretty clear that the Scottsdale team was on top of all the details.  They had done a fantastic job of raising up leaders, executing their vision and preparing for the hundreds of ladies who were participating.  As a result, the Texas team found themselves with an opportunity to simply receive.

This unexpected turn of events left each of them with an opportunity to enter into what God was doing.  As each of them shared, I heard them begin to testify about the unexpected impact of resting in the presence of God.  Some talked about the refreshment, some about how unexpected chains were broken, some about hearing God in a new way, some about the reminder of their first love. They all testified that they were deeply impacted, returning home changed in unexpected ways.

One of the team talked about the concept of forced rest in an athlete's training program.  It seems that there is a general understanding that an athlete must build breaks in their training program as a planned part of getting stronger.  It's the basic principles of resistance training.  You stress your muscles one day and rest them the next.  During the rest the muscles actually grow larger and stronger.

Most athletes know that getting enough rest after exercise is essential to high-level performance, but many still over train and feel guilty when they take a day off. The body repairs and strengthens itself in the time between workouts, and continuous training can actually weaken the strongest athletes. Sportsmedicene.com

I realized in that moment that both the team and myself had been led into a moment of forced rest.  They by a lack of responsibility.  Me by a lack of health.  In both cases God was prescribing the same treatment.  As they found their hands empty, their hearts began to fill up.  As I surrender to the "battle plan" before me, I begin to turn the tide of my crisis toward health.

What if Jesus wants to invite all of us into a season of rest?  We call it Sabbath.  Just think - every week He commands that we would pause to rest.  We can do it out of obedience or we can push ourselves beyond the limits of our physical, emotional or spiritual strength and find ourselves staring "square" in the face of a situation which debilitates us.  For me it's a health crisis.  For others it might be a failing marriage, a financial disaster, a loss of passion or a sense of hopelessness.

Genesis 2:2-3And on the seventh day God finished his work that he had done, and herested on the seventh day from all his work that he had done.So God blessed the seventh day and made it holy, because on it God rested from all his work that he had done in creation.

The Bible says that the seventh day - the day of required rest - is both blessed and holy. (Shh - this is a secret - I have believed the seventh day is nice, wasted and for the weak.) I have been so foolish. I have been afraid to rest because I don't fully trust that God can do more without me than with me.  I have believed that the blessing only comes through works.

I pray you will surrender to rest long before you are pressed into it by destruction, loss or fear. But even if it's too late for the rest that comes by choice...even if you are like me - receiving a mandate of rest like a prescription to recovery - our God is so faithful.  We can receive the same benefit as my friends did while in Scottsdale.  As we empty our hands and cease striving, He will heal us and He will do so much more.  Soon we'll be testifying of the unexpected and completely luscious blessing that comes from resting in Him.

Jesus Makes Me Steadfast

“Lord, give me firmness without hardness, steadfastness without dogmatism, love without weakness.” ―

Jim Elliot

I've been noticing so many words that begin with an "R". When I hear them, they ring in the spirit.  It's like my ear detects something different, an underlying layer of meaning.  My whole spirit begins to lean toward that word and I want to dig a little deeper.  I am building a series of blogs on these R words just because I need the encouragement most of all.  You can refer to my last post on

"Rest"

as the starting point.  Today, I am revisiting (see that R word?) the key to overcoming cancer the Lord gave me in 2009.  It was my first R word and it is still such an important key for me:

Resolute

Resolute: admirably purposeful, determined, unwavering

This word was so impactful to me at the beginning of my journey that I decided to share what I wrote about becoming resolute from my original blog post of July 10, 2009. 

Laughter is Good Medicine.

I like to ask God each year for a word for that year - something personal that will tell me what He has in mind for me. By mid-February I knew that my word for 2009 was "resolute". Resolute means steadfast, unwavering, without doubt, fully committed, with no duplicity. As soon as I heard it, I realized I was going to have to fight. I thought I might have to fight to stay in the ministry, or fight to hear God, or maybe fight to remain stable. Little did I know what loomed on the horizon. I am fighting for my very life.

This morning I was reading Dodie Osteen's book called Healed of Cancer (given to me last night by a very special friend, Janet Stephenson - thank you!) and I came across a verse that made my heart leap. I've searched the Bible for the word resolute and can't find it! I knew that steadfastness was the character of the Lord and I found some confirming verses for that - but I had not really laid hold of a passage that spoke to me about being resolute.

Guess what I found this morning? Hebrews 10:23 - "Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful."

I will not waver again. Not because of my faith, but because He is faithful.

My faith has been quickened by the outrageous, lavish, abundant declaration of God's goodness toward me. I believe that I am healed when everything in my body is saying something different. I take authority over my mind, will and emotions - removing duplicite thoughts and becoming single-minded.

I command the root of cancer to die and leave my body whole and restored. Resolute.

I am grateful that the root of my faith is not contingent upon my effort.  Whether I am having a dark season or just a single difficult day, it is the indwelling presence of the Holy Spirit that makes me steadfast.  My faith is not "worked up" by effort or fear but rather comes to me like bread on water each morning.  When I feel the temptation to drift away, my responsibility is to confess my faith again.  He does all the rest.

Last week I received a very special gift. My friend Nolita Theo sent me a copy of the book I mentioned above by Dodie Osteen called Healed of Cancer.  I've listed it as my number one recommendation on this blog for anyone who is battling cancer. I found a new copy, along with a note, on my desk last week.  As I picked it up, I told Elisabeth Dunn (my co-worker) how important that little book had become in my life and how sweet it was that someone would send it to me again.

As I flipped it open, I found a new blessing!

Mrs. Osteen had written me a personal note!  I was so excited by this precious gift.  Nolita had remembered our conversation from months before.  Mrs. Osteen's faith quickened my faith in 2009 and enabled me to trust God in new measure through her testimony of miraculous healing.

So let's "square up" together. If you find yourself in need of greater faith, just borrow my favorite verse - Hebrews 10:23 - and begin to confess. We will find that in spite of our human weakness, He who promised is faithful (steadfast, unwavering, trustworthy).

Are You Resilient?

I wrote the post below before I heard my amazing friend

Christine Caine

preach last night at the First Conference at

Gateway Church

.  She's been speaking into my life for so many years. Her message about how my miracle needs a miracle broke my hard heart.  Surely my flour and oil will not run out and my miracle will be restored.

Thanks to Christine for helping me grasp hold of my promises! She put a bounce back in my step today.

You can watch last night's message by clicking here.

Now onto my post!

resilient: able to recoil or spring back into shape after bending, stretching or being compressed; able to withstand or recover quickly from difficult conditions;flexible, supple, strong or tough

Adversity can and does come just like a hot, loud and fiery dragon.  It threatens to conquer. But just like this little soldier, you have I have all we need to overcome.  You and I possess the shield, sword and helmet that ensure our ability to bounce back.

A couple of years ago I heard my friend Christine Caine, share a message on remaining youthful in our spirits.  She compared the signs of aging in our human body to the loss of zeal in our spirit.  She had a long list of "symptoms" including loss of resiliency.

Over the last few months of my cancer treatments, I've grieved a bit over my lack of resilience.  It's frustrating to find that you can't force your body to recover as fast as you would like.  I am very aware of my physical weakness and that I am not moving as freely, as fast, or as confidently as I desire.

The physical impact is hard but I am more concerned about my spiritual resiliency.

As I've been walking through this season I notice that my heart is a sad and disappointed.  I can't believe I am here again.  I don't like the fact that my body (my brain) is taking it's own sweet time to heal.  I want a recovery that is quick and easy, permanent and inexpensive.  I want to get up and go rather than lay down (or is it lie down?) and rest.

So I've been asking God about my heart.  How do I become more resilient?

God just keeps taking me back to the same answer - patient rest.

When your body does not recover quickly you must give it more time, healthy nutrition, the proper exercise.  So it is for the soul as well.  I need more patience with God's work in my life, greater consumption of the Word of God and the simple daily pattern of choosing to exercise my faith.  This is how I "square up" while I wait on my  healing.

There is a promise in the Word of God that says if I wait on God, He will renew my strength.  Here is Isaiah 40:30-31 from The Message.

Why would you ever complain, O Jacob, (Jan)or, whine, Israel, saying,“God has lost track of me.He doesn’t care what happens to me”?Don’t you know anything? Haven’t you been listening? God doesn’t come and go. God lasts. (He's resolute.)He’s Creator of all you can see or imagine.He doesn’t get tired out, doesn’t pause to catch his breath. (He's resilient.)And he knows everything, inside and out. (He's aware)He energizes those who get tired, (He's powerful.)gives fresh strength to dropouts. (He generous.)For even young people tire and drop out, young folk in their prime stumble and fall. But those who wait upon God get fresh strength. They spread their wings and soar like eagles,They run and don’t get tired,they walk and don’t lag behind.

So I'm learning how to be both brave and strong in the face of adversity.  I'm leaning into the strength that comes from trusting God alone and pulling on the eternal nature of my heart - which does not have to age or grow brittle.  I'm pressing my natural body to keep standing, keep walking, keep rising.  I am determined to bounce back and be renewed.

Do you bounce back from adversity? You will if you rest in God alone and wait patiently upon His strength.

Let's  square up both in body and soul.  He will make us strong.

The Cycle of Life

And if the Spirit of Him Who raised up Jesus from the dead dwells in you, [then] He Who raised up Christ Jesus from the dead will also restore to life your mortal (short-lived, perishable) bodies through His Spirit Who dwells in you. Romans 8:11 AMP

(I am adding to my series that begins with the letter R.  You can check out my other related posts here:  Resolute, Rest, Resilient.)

I am very happy to report that I came through week one of treatment with flying colors.  (Thanks for your mighty prayers this week.)  I saw Dr. Khan on Wednesday and he was pleased with my immediate blood work (high white blood cell count - which means low risk of infection and sustained strength) and we are hopeful that my blood work (sent to the lab) will already reflect a decrease in my tumor markers.  At this point, there is no way to evaluate the effectiveness of the chemo.  We are dependent upon outward observation, faith in the process and the preliminary blood work.

I've been thinking a lot about how cancer/chemotherapy work.  I wanted to share a revelation that I got in 2009 which was quickened to me again this past week.  Many times I have said in the midst of the treatment cycle that I am simply waiting on the moment of resurrection.

A few days after chemotherapy, all the energy simply leaves your body.  You don't really feel bad, but you suddenly don't have the strength to stand.  For several days you simply are forced to surrender from flat on your back and from a position of rest.  And then - one day - you simply rise up again.  You can't force the rising and you can't resist the resting.

I opened this blog with Romans 8:11 which promises life to the mortal body.  I know there is an eternal resurrection for those who are in Christ Jesus where we will receive an immortal body that will be incorruptible. (Who isn't excited about that?  No more pain or tears or weakness. Glory to God!)

But we also experience "mini-resurrections" throughout our life.  I'm sharing about a physical recovery but I bet you can also identify some spiritual, emotional, relational or even financial recoveries you've experienced in your own life.

The Greek word for resurrection is anastasis and it means to rise again, to stand up, to recover from a debilitating condition, rebirth.

I have nicknamed this process resurrection and identified four distinct stages I go through with each round of chemo.  Moreover, I am also walking through these stages on a grander scale.  They are four overall steps in being healed - in overcoming.  Last time it took me two years to reach step four, but every three weeks I am being reminded to trust God for resurrection.

I hope this explanation of how I see the cycle from going down to coming up might help you identify where you are in some skirmishes of your own.

You appear healthy, but you are not.

This is where you cope with the unknown, the surprise of the attack and the disappointment of having to contend for your health (or relationships, emotions, finances, etc.) Everything might look fine on the outside, but inside a full-on assault is underway. Here light comes to darkness and secrets are revealed. For me this is characterized by shock, sadness, disappointment and even a little embarassed.

You appear unhealthy and you are unhealthy.

This is the most challenging phase (for me) as the battle manifests in both your mind and body.  Here the outcome is unclear and the treatment (or intervention) begins to take a toll on you in every way.  Others can now know that something is wrong and can even be frightened by what they see. Often this is a long phase - a dual (stand off) of sorts - where you and the enemy face off day after day. With time, a certain rhythm of the fight comes and you learn to persevere despite frightening consequences or bad reports.  A warrior is born and perseverance becomes a powerful weapon. You learn how to fight and fight well.  You begin to understand the superiority of your weapons and the strength of your faith.

You appear unhealthy but you are becoming healthy.

This is where the tide turns and is often the slowest part of the process.  Healing manifests from the inside out.  It requires time and patience.  Just as it takes a long time for your body to overcome, repair itself and feel normal again, your inner man also requires patient forced rest.  There is a healing of the mind, will and emotions that coincides with recovery. Here you are securing the treasures of the victory, plundering the enemies camp and developing your identity as a person of recovery.  You are well for a long time on the inside before you experience full restoration on the outside.

You appear healthy and you are healthy.

This is the goal and dream of every person who contends with sickness (or trauma or loss) - the ultimate resurrection of sorts.  It's wonderful when you reach the stage where others don't instantly know the battle you are in.  You truly rise again, becoming a symbol of hope and encouragement to others who are in the midst of their own fights.  In this phase, you recognize the price of the victory and work to defend and retain all the territory you have recovered. It's marked by gratitude and a quiet confidence.  Now your testimony becomes more powerful than the test.

I have no power to bring resurrection to myself.  I am completely dependent upon this mortal body to respond to it's innate design to live.  As I wait, I wait upon the Lord and I remind myself the same power that raised Christ from the dead lives in me. The presence of the Holy Spirit living in this natural flesh is my supernatural advantage. My weapons are divine and my victory is assured.  I fight from a position of strength and all around me are those who war with me.

I am grateful to know that I am prone to resurrection rather than to death.

I hope that whatever battle you might be facing, you can find yourself in these four phases and from that position pull on the promises of God. Simply invite the Holy Spirit into that portion of your need and wait upon the Lord. He is faithful and He has overcome the sting of death. If we participate in His sufferings we will also participate in His glory.

Check out this resurrection wording in Isaiah 40:30 AMP

But those who wait for the Lord [who expect, look for, and hope in Him]Will gain new strengthandrenew their power; (resurrect) They will lift up their wings [and rise up close to God] like eagles [rising toward the sun];They will run and not become weary,They will walk and not grow tired.

We will rise again!

Jan

10 Tips To Grow Strong In Your Prophetic Gift

The Lord God has given me the tongue of the learned, that I should know how to speak a word in season to him who is weary. Isaiah 50:4

Is there anything more fun than hearing the voice of the Holy Spirit?

Maybe in worship, you’ve caught the breath of His voice.  Maybe as you opened His Word, your spirit leaped.  Maybe He has used a friend to say something encouraging when you were weary.

All of these are examples of one of the most powerful gifts discussed in the New Testament – a gift available to every believer.  I Corinthian 14:1 says “Pursue love and desire spiritual gifts, but especially that you may prophecy.”

Why would you want to prophecy?

The word prophecy means to speak, say, declare or make known.  In Hebrew, the word “nabi” means to flow, bubble or pour forth words, to gush.  When we begin to speak or declare the whispers of God, we will naturally accomplish the biblical purpose of prophecy.  I Corinthians 14:3 says “He who prophesies speaks edification (guidance) exhortation (encouragement) and comfort (cheer).”

Here are ten tips to help you grow strong in your prophetic gift.

• It’s normal – Let me clarify a bit of a misconception. Somehow we’ve taught people that hearing God’s voice and sharing your impressions or thoughts with another is abnormal – or at the very least – for only special people. The truth is that hearing the voice of God and sharing what we hear is at the foundation of the Christian experience. Every believer can hear and share.

• Tune in – Learning to hear the voice of God is a bit like learning to dial an old fashioned radio. We used to turn the dial until the radio signal became strong. As you were searching for your favorite music, there was a lot of static. But as you drew near to the “channel” things became clear. God’s voice is much like this. As you begin to pray, meditate and listen closely about a particular person or situation, often your channel will become clear. Practice focusing your mind and heart by using a particular question. For example, “What do you want to say to my friend, today?”

• Fight fear – When you begin to prophecy, you will encounter fear. It is a “fearful” thing to dare to speak to another an impression, thought or image that is God-inspired. In the moment, your own heart might pound, your breath become short and your hands sweat. I’ve only found one cure for this attack – keep going. You can move past the fear as you humbly submit yourself and the word to the person you are ministering to.

• Be teachable – One of the easiest ways to learn how to handle, give and receive prophetic words is to walk alongside someone more experienced than you. They can give you practical instruction, careful guidance and positive encouragement. Don’t be afraid to be corrected. I Corinthians 13:9 says “For we know in part and we prophesy in part…” No one learned to use any gift or talent without practice. If you don’t have someone in your circle who can help, remember that you can be mentored by books, teachings and trainings.

• Get a word for yourself – There is no one who can give you a more encouraging prophetic word than Christ himself. Others may speak into your life, confirm some whispers of the Holy Spirit or even call out gifts and talents. But the strongest, most life changing word comes from heaven itself right into your spirit.

• Be tender – When you are speaking prophetically to another person, their heart is wide open. Keep in mind that the person before you is vulnerable. Speak carefully, tenderly, with grace. Let God use your cooperation to draw out of people His awesome gifts and abilities. Your word should highlight His greatness, kindness, goodness and unfailing love.

• Weigh your words – Words always have tremendous power to bless or to curse, but when you are intentionally speaking an encouragement to another, they are fully loaded for maximum impact. Just because you hear, doesn’t mean you have permission to speak. Sometimes you will have to hold your tongue and submit a matter to prayer.

• Offer your word– Prophetic words should be offered or submitted to another person in a humble manner. They are never to be pushed upon someone. If a word is delivered in a demanding or controlling tone, it will set in motion a sense of manipulation and will not accomplish a biblical purpose. You offer and the other person chooses whether or not to receive.

• Work on your timing – You can be in a situation where you have the “right” word but it’s the “wrong” time. Before delivering a word, consider if you have the relationship and or authority to speak into this person? Is this the right environment? Is this the right time? It is okay to hold a word, to pray about it and to watch for the opportune timing of God.

• Love more – Want to hear God more clearly and give more precise, encouraging words? Love more. That’s right! The greater your love and compassion for God, people and yourself, the more easily you will flow in the gift of prophecy. Love is close to the heart of the Father and according to II Corinthians 13, guaranteed to never fail.

3 Questions to ask God/Activate Your Prophetic Gift

• Do you love me?

• What do you want to say to me right now?

• What are the gifts/talents you have given me you want me to focus on now?

We Will Win

We will win! This is the rally cry of the Flower Mound High School football team.  This year, they are being led by a new coach who is developing a mindset of victory.  Following several years of heavy defeats and losing seasons, even Matthew had begun to lose his love for the sport.  When Coach Basil arrived on the scene things began to shift.

Matthew went from "I'm not sure it's worth it," to shouts of "we will win."

I've thought a lot about how that happened.

Coach showed up rather quiet and observant in the initial days.  He spent some time getting to know them and began to develop his team and his strategy.  He addressed their mindset first.  They felt like losers.  He began to declare they were winners.  Then he set about conditioning their body for endurance.  He aligned them as a team in positions of strength.  He made them push themselves beyond their prior limits and then he surrounded them with words of courage and shouts of victory.

At first, when Matthew shared the rally cry, he kind of shrugged his shoulders.  He thought the rally cry was a little optimistic.  He's a leader - so he shouted "we will win" among the loudest - demonstrating his willingness to try.  Slowly, day by day and practice by practice, he began to believe.

This week Matthew came to my Equip class called #squareup. (Even if you didn't get to attend, you can watch by clicking here.)  I wanted him to share about his perspective on how to fight cancer and what square up meant to him on the football field.  He began to share his story and experience of coming up against an enemy, preparing himself for battle and finally engaging face to face - hit to hit.

As he shared, I could hear the prophetic bent to his voice.  He was talking about football, but I was hearing a war cry. (Here's a clip from Matthew's comments.)

We will win!

We will win!

We will win!

The ultimate outcome of this war in which we live has already been won.  Christ has done a finished work on the cross.  He has disarmed darkness, taken back the keys to death and hell and seated Himself at the right hand of the Father.

For everyone who has been born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith. Who is it that overcomes the world except the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?  I John 5:4-5

Therefore, we can square up with this victory.  We can come into alignment with His plans, purpose and strategies for our lives.  We can be resolute in the declaration of our faith and we can rest in His presence while He wars for us.

We can have a mindset of victory.

We must.

The Jaguars won the season opener by a whopping score of 65-14.  I have to admit it's a lot more fun to win than to lose.  But this week, they faced a different level of opponent.  They fought hard but came away with a loss of 16-23.

Just like our spiritual war, it seems some days the enemy gets the upper hand.  Just as we stretch out and take a breath, it seems we stumble or fall.  What seemed within our reach slips between our fingers.

This is when we find out what we really believe.

This is when we become a real warriors.

This is when we firm up our own mindset of victory.

Whether you enjoyed the throes of victory or faced a set back of your own this week, you can fight on with confidence because #wewin.

But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. I Corinthians 15:57

3 Life Lessons Breast Cancer Taught Me

The month of October is almost gone and I haven't said one word about breast cancer. In August I thought about writing a blog a day in the month of October about the lessons I've learned as a breast cancer survivor.  (The Lord knows I can come up with 31 lessons -  no problem.)

I quickly put that idea to bed.

To be honest, I don't like to talk about breast cancer and the month of October often seems like an onslaught of pink reminders of things I'd rather not dwell upon.  It used to bring to mind images of cooler weather, football, and a great cup of coffee.  But in 2009, it began to mean something different to me.

That October I saw pink everywhere.  T-shirts, flip-flops, coke cans and every other product and place you can think of.  Even the NFL got into it with pink gloves, cleats and ribbons right on their jerseys.

What was supposed to be an idea that evoked an awareness and sense of community around a health issue that impacts 1 in 8 women in their lifetime, became for me a mocking symbol of my weakness. Sometimes I just ignored it and sometimes it made me angry.

Here's the honest truth - I didn't embrace "the pink ribbon" because I did not want to be identified with the disease I was battling.

I've had to fight to overcome that mindset. Running, hiding or even ignoring this struggle was ineffective and only left me weary and afraid.

Like it or not, I am forever tied to the issue of breast cancer and that little pink ribbon.

I've realized that my own fear has made me run from identifying myself with a group of people that I actually love, embrace and am proud to be a part of.  Cancer survivors are warriors and they are powerful.

So before October is gone, I want to overcome my own childishness and share three of the most important life lessons breast cancer has taught me.

BELIEVE MORE DEEPLY

Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.” Matthew 19:26

What you believe and how strongly you believe it really matters!  To believe means to accept as true or real. Take a moment and reflect on your beliefs.  Are they grounded in truth? Are they shaped by fear?  Do you need to change your mind about some of your beliefs?

Once you’ve evaluated the ground upon which you have placed your faith, you are ready to reach down inside of your heart and simply dare to believe.  Believe you might get through it.  Believe that even if you don’t, it will work for your good.  Believe that what the enemy meant for evil God will use for good.

DECLARE MORE LOUDLY

The tongue has the power of life and death, and those who love it will eat its fruit.

Proverbs 18:21

What you say and how you say it really matters!  To declare means to make known, to announce emphatically, to proclaim.  Stop and listen to yourself.  What are you saying? What are you reading? Who are you listening to?

Once you’ve heard your own voice and based your beliefs upon truth, use what you know for your good.  Speak to your mountain and tell it to get out of your way. Pray out loud. Write a declaration of faith and read it to yourself. Say something encouraging.

STAND MORE FIRMLY

Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand.

Ephesians 6:13

What you do and how you do it really matters!  To stand means to maintain an upright position supported by one’s feet.  Take a measure of where you are standing.  Are you feet firmly planted on the rock of Jesus Christ? Have you taken a position based upon His word? Have you refused to compromise your position with worry, doubt or fear?

Today, I embrace the month of October as an opportunity to share about the importance of early detection as a life saving measure.  For all my female readers - Have you had your mammogram?  Why not?

I've also taken a stand to embrace the pink ribbon with honor.  It identifies a tribe of people impacted and empowered by a shared experience.  I have decided that the ribbon is a statement of my victory and a reminder to me and others of the power of our faith and the hope of our salvation. (Visit my page on Breast Cancer to learn a little more about my personal journey.)

What about you?  What life lessons have you learned from adversity?  Together, we could come up with our own list of 31 "pearls of wisdom."

*In 2011, I became a part of a project of The National Breast Cancer Foundation who’s mission is to save lives by increasing awareness of breast cancer through education and by providing mammograms for those in need. Beyond the Shock is an initiative of the organization that is designed to provide a broad range of resources and encouragement for breast cancer patients and their families. I am featured as a documentary participant, sharing my personal insights and perspectives as a cancer survivor.

5 Tips to Help You Hear God's Voice

Hearing God's voice and sharing what you hear for the purpose of encouraging another is the gift of prophecy in operation.  According to I Corinthians 14:3, this gift edifies, exhorts, and comforts; helps us build up or strengthen; and points us to the Word of God

Receiving a prophetic word is life changing.  Mark and I have received prophetic words that have shaped our faith and our fight.  We've received words that have given us healing, comfort and direction for the future and we've had our gifts and callings confirmed.  Some words have been public.  Many words have been private.  And some of the most pivotal words have been the ones God spoke directly to our own hearts in the midst of our private worship.

If you've never received a prophetic word, I have good news for you.  You can pursue God for a word for yourself.  He loves to speak to His children and He always has something to share with you.

So don't wait for a public ministry moment or for someone else to see and hear on your behalf.  All believers can boldly pursue a conversation with God.

Here are my 5 favorite tips to help you hear God's voice. 

1 - Be still

Settle down.  Get yourself in a position to hear God.  Gather everything you might want or need.  For me it's a very practical list:  blanket, Bible, glasses, pen, journal and my cup of coffee.

2 - Worship

Use the first few moments to just turn your attention to the presence of God.  He is always with us, but I don't always acknowledge Him.  I try to clear my mind a bit by thanking Him for loving me.  You can use worship songs, prayer, or writing in a journal - whatever helps you tune into the presence of God.

3 - Ask a good question 

Find a good question to ask God, and then wait just a moment.  Sometimes I ask a question and hear nothing.  Try again.  Ask a different question.  Still don't hear?  Get more specific.  It's like finding the exact radio frequency that God wants to use to speak directly to you. Sometimes there is a lot of static at first, then bits and pieces begin to break through and then suddenly you slip into the stream of His voice and you can hear.

4 - Write it down

If at all possible, just start writing.  As you write, set your heart to believe.  Sometimes the word is so dramatic and accompanied by such specific imagery that I can hold onto it without recording it.  Other times God is so subtle, specific and tender that if I don't grasp it so quickly and I lose it.  It still brings life to me, but I lose the ability to steward it for my blessing over and over.

5 - Obey

Now we can become like Timothy and learn to use the prophetic word spoken to wage war in the spirit.  The more you thank God for it, believe God and battle with it, the greater will be the blessing and the manifestation of His word in your life.

What's your favorite tip for hearing God?